Geriatric Respondents and Non-Respondents to Probiotic Intervention Can be Differentiated by Inherent Gut Microbiome Composition

Abstract

ScopeProbiotic interventions are known to have been shown to influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota in geriatrics. The growing concern is the apparent variation in response to identical strain dosage among human volunteers. One factor that governs this variation is the host gut microbiome. In this study, we attempted to define a core gut metagenome, which could act as a predisposition signature marker of inherent bacterial community that can help predict the success of a probiotic intervention.Methods and resultsTo characterize the geriatric gut microbiome, we designed primers targeting the 16S rRNA hypervariable region V2–V3 followed by semiconductor sequencing using Ion Torrent PGM. Among respondents and non-respondents, the chief genera of phylum Firmicutes that showed significant differences are Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Eubacterium, and Blautia (q < 0.002), while in the genera of phylum Proteobacteria included Shigella, Escherichia, Burkholderia and Camphylobacter (q < 0.002).ConclusionWe have identified potential microbial biomarkers and taxonomic patterns that correlate with a positive response to probiotic intervention in geriatric volunteers. Future work with larger cohorts of geriatrics with diverse dietary influences could reveal the potential of the signature patterns of microbiota for personalized nutrition.

A Review of the Role of the Gut Microbiome in Personalized Sports Nutrition

“…Additionally, studies that have measured changes in performance in response to probiotic supplementation have not looked at individual's gut microbiota composition directly. This is a limitation of these studies as different strains of probiotic bacteria show differing rates of survival through the gastrointestinal tract (157) and the composition of an individual's gut microbiota may also influence the persistence and function of probiotic bacteria in the gut (158)(159)(160). Therefore, not all probiotic strains may survive in sufficient quantities to make it down to the gut microbiome and, even if the probiotic bacteria reach the gut microbiome, it may not last as long or have the same effect in each individual.…”

Selection of potential probiotic bifidobacteria and prebiotics for elderly by using in vitro faecal batch cultures

“…Actually, human probiotics have often shown only limited microbiota modulation ability [16,28,35]. This resilience of the gut microbiota seems to depend on the basal microbiota composition, which may determine the responder or non-responder phenotype towards probiotic intervention in elderly [36].…”

The Dynamic Microbial Landscape of the Intestine and the Impact on Probiotic Therapy

“…Using fecal microbiota analysis at baseline and after dietary interventions, they were able to predict responsiveness of the host microbiota using microbial biomarkers [48]. Another human study profiling geriatric individuals revealed potential microbial biomarkers between probiotic respondents and non-respondents [49]. It was previously suggested that level of response depended on change in cholesterol; instead, the fecal microbiota provided a more clinically useful biomarker [49].…”

“…Another human study profiling geriatric individuals revealed potential microbial biomarkers between probiotic respondents and non-respondents [49]. It was previously suggested that level of response depended on change in cholesterol; instead, the fecal microbiota provided a more clinically useful biomarker [49]. It is also important to note that the geriatric study identified a microbiota shift in non-respondents [49]; thus, it is pertinent to distinguish individuals that respond or do not respond to dietary interventions such as probiotics.…”